Parrots are cool. They are also one hell of a lot of work.

Yes, I am a raging liberal. And no I’m not going to go off on a rant. But I am going to make a few suggestions on how to get through what looks like is going to be an uncomfortable time for many people in this this country in the near future.

Garrison Keillor wrote a very enlightened article about how to go about making your life a little easier if you are uncomfortable with the world’s state of affairs. And I’d like to expand on what he suggested. Keillor had some great ideas for those that are currently squirming. He suggests that we quit squirming:

“Democrats can spend four years raising heirloom tomatoes, meditating, reading Jane Austen, traveling around the country, tasting artisan beers, and let the Republicans build the wall and carry on the trade war with China and deport the undocumented and deal with opioids and we Democrats can go for a long brisk walk and smell the roses.”

I’m going to add a bit to these suggestions. Turn to your flock. Make them the focus of your attention. Teach them some new behaviors and tricks. Take them for walks in a carry cage or on a feather tether.

Get your head out of the media if it is making you crazy and turn your attention to doing something that makes you happy.

My Greys make me happy. Well, at least they do when Parker isn’t chewing on a wall or banging on a door. I really do love them and I think they have kind of gotten used to me. I have spent more time doing things that I enjoy. I’m also trying to keep my focus on what I need to do to prepare for the road to retirement from my job as a Flight Attendant. That keeps me busy and focused on something that needs attention. Looking toward the future keeps me focused on the long game and distracts me from short-term frustration.

I’m flying out of Fort Lauderdale which takes me off of Interstate 95 to Miami twice a day. If you have never driven it, consider yourself lucky. FLL is about a nine-minute drive for me so flying out of there and on domestic flights makes my life less stressful and makes it easier to deal with. I don’t have to worry about getting mowed down by an 18 wheeler or sideswiped by someone going 90 miles an hour. Flying domestically keeps me out of the customs and immigration line which is a drag if you have to do it every day. Although with what just happened this last week in San Francisco, this might not be the case. On a domestic flight from SFO to JFK, passengers were not allowed to leave the aircraft unless they showed their identification to Customs and Boarder Patrol. (CPB) The fact that the CPB doesn’t actually have the legal authority to do this didn’t seem to daunt them.

I invested in a new vacuum cleaner that works beautifully. It was expensive as hell, but it has a ten-year guarantee and it really makes my life easier. And considering how much vacuuming I do, it was completely worth the investment.

I am going to try and begin growing some rosemary on my porch once again. I like cooking with rosemary and it makes sense to grow it for my kitchen.

I’m thinking of taking up Tai Chi. It might be good to focus on being calm and through this practice, learning to meditate. The Dalai Lama even has some advice for those who feel a tad off-center. He said, “Constant anger is very bad for our health.” I have to agree with him on that one. Blowing it out and casting it away from your life is probably a good way to handle things.

Off course there are probably those who, while they may be feeling this whole different world as chaotic, do not choose to “Go gentle into that good night. ” They might feel that resistance and raging against the dying of the light might be a higher road. I don’t blame them. And if they have the energy for that, I applaud them. I’m just not sure I could keep it up for as long as I think it might be useful.

And of course there are some who feel that this is the best of times. I’m not one of them.

In the meantime, I am going to move on and try and learn some new things, grow my rosemary and try and keep my chin up.

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Patricia Sund

Patricia Sund is a Free-Lance Writer residing in Florida with her three African Greys. She has been published in About.com, Bird Talk Magazine, Birds USA, In Your Flock Magazine, Good Bird Magazine as well as numerous websites and newsletters. She is currently doing research for a book titled "Parrot Nation".

7 thoughts on “How To Survive The Current Political Climate”

I got an Electrolux. I saw the Dyson go to crap over the years and I made a ten or twelve year investment. It is a dream. Leave it to Bird Families to discuss the virtues of various vacuum cleaners, brands and how well they perform!

I watched the presidential address the other day and nonetheless I have to say I was a little appalled. I am worried about my future as a young person going to a university soon. Where I will be moving out of my parents house and trying to afford living on my own, health insurance, buying a house etc. I am a liberal too and can appreciate your advice from the Dali Lama to stay positive. I just started a blog about non-smoking and was wondering if you could help me by following me. It’s a project I’m working on for school but I am really enjoying the writing part and I would greatly appreciate it if you would follow me. I only write once a week and mostly just do research by reading others posts. Either way thank you for your inspiration and great ideas! 🙂 thank you